Wine will be sold in grocery stores this fall: Wynne

Mississauga South MPP and finance minister Charles Sousa and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announce the sale of wine in grocery stores on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Photo: Government of Ontario)

Wine will be sold in up to 150 grocery stores in Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced Thursday, ending the LCBO’s monopoly on domestic and imported labels.
Under the plan, 70 grocery stores province-wide will be able to start selling wine, beer and cider this fall.

“Finally, people in Ontario will be able to buy their wine and groceries at the same place, at the same time, at the same checkout,” said Wynne, adding it’s a “win-win-win scenario.”

The price of the same beer and wine product will be identical across all retail outlets.

In addition, up to 150 existing wine retail shops, typically located next to grocery stores, will be able to move in and offer an expanded selection.

Spirits, though, remain under LCBO control.
The provincial government accepted final recommendations from privatization guru Ed Clark, whose portfolio includes selling Hydro One, and making beer available to consumers in grocery stores last Dec.

All 60 grocery stores from the first request for bids for beer are now authorized, with some retailers having beer on their shelves within a month.

A similar process is taking place for the bidding request for wine sales.